Does organic have to be dirty?

by Debra McDuffee (Subscribe to Debra McDuffee's posts)
May 16th 2007 10:00AM

Categories: Sustainable Community, Vegetarian, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements

I know, I know, it really is a rant post, thinly disguised as a post about organic food.

But really, does organic food have to be dirty? I don't know about you, but I find that when I buy organic food, it tends to need a lot more washing than the conventional fruits and veggies. Tonight, for instance, it has never taken me so long to make a salad in my life. I had to wash, wipe and dry each individual leaf, due to the dirt and dead bugs. Yuck! It makes me understand why some people don't choose organic.

Does anyone else have this problem?

I know organic is better. I am not ingesting pesticides, the soil used is less depleted due to proper crop rotation, which means more nutrients, and it is great for the environment. But there are some days I don't want a head of green leaf lettuce to consume the better part of my afternoon.

Yes, I will continue to buy organic, and I will probably even try not to complain about it anymore. But I was just wondering if it is just me?

Comments (4)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Crabby McSlacker 5-16-2007 @ 10:15AM

Thank goodness I'm not the only one who finds this really annoying.

It's almost like they're leaving a bunch of dirt on there on purpose just to 'prove' it's really organic. I just want to say "I believe you already! Really!"

I'm lazy as it is and already feel virtuous just making the salad in the first place. So any dirt that doesn't come off in a quick rinse--I'm eating it. So far it hasn't killed me, but dang, they could help us out a bit on this.

Crabby does her grousing at http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/

Marjory Sampson 5-18-2007 @ 7:39AM

I read a couple of books by Gary Null and he suggested we wash all of our vegetables with this solution: 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup of peroxide to a gallon of water. This is non-toxic to any person and will sanitize your food as well as wash off the pesticides and whatever else was sprayed on them, bugs included. You can clean your house with it too. I use it all the time, especially for any fresh vegetables and fruit.

Julie 7-07-2007 @ 6:33PM

I have often wondered the same thing-- and I agree that it is completely annoying. I actually wondered if the dirt might offer some natural humidity control-- and thus help preserve the produce longer. My husband, however, theorized that it is a marketing gimmick-- that we consumers will think the produce is healthier if it was grown in ACTUAL dirt. (As opposed to the, say, buckets of chemicals that "regular" produce is grown in).

rhiannon 7-07-2007 @ 8:41PM

try submerging the lettuce (or other veggies) in a sink or bowl full of water and shaking. most of the dirt will sink to the bottom. then give it another quick rinse. this method works best for me.